Your 10/13 City Council Agenda
Happy Sunday, Ward One
As I was at a wedding last night for two Ward One neighbors (Congratulations, Conor and Jade!), I was reflecting on just how much of a whirlwind this past year has been. 15 months ago, I was on my honeymoon, not thinking at all about city government. This has not been exactly how I thought the first year of marriage would go.
But we’ve made a lot happen in that time, from safer streets and sidewalks to cleaned up parks. This year, I introduced more legislation than any other alderman. However, one year is not enough time to do everything the community needs with the care that impactful legislation demands. Sometimes it’s better to press pause and wait for next term to better engage with the community and collaborate with a mayor who wants to be a unifier for all Annapolitans. You’ll see that mindset applied to a couple of pieces of legislation up for a vote this week.
Here are the top 3 things you need to know in Annapolis:
I’ll be voting for limiting STRs to no more than 10% of a block, voting against removing owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs, voting against changing the height limits near City Dock, and withdrawing my legislation re-allowing duplexes.
I’m announcing my Compact with the Community, describing how I intend to maximize transparency and write the most thoughtful legislation possible in my second term
The city will be cleaning and inspecting sewer lines throughout Ward One, which may cause some disruptions over the next couple months.
Updates from Harry
When our then-State Senator was running for Congress and I volunteered to knock doors for her campaign, there was something I said over and over: “In my job, I’ve seen firsthand that she is the ideal legislator, bringing people together to negotiate progress everyone can be proud of.”
Legislating is a skill. It’s one that I came into this job with a good amount of experience in, from interning in Congress to drafting bills that have become state laws. But like any other skill, it can always be improved.
Having clear processes for legislating is an important way to do that. So, today, I’m introducing a set of commitments for the rest of this term and what will hopefully be my first full term on the council.
Compact with the Community:
You’ll hear it from me first
While ensuring accuracy, I will strive to be your most timely source of information about major developments affecting our ward. An example of where I could have done better on this was the short-lived proposal earlier this year to build a marina at City Dock, which I’m sure folks would have rather heard about from me than read in the paper. This does mean that you’re likely to see more “special editions,” but I still won’t be spamming your inbox every day.We’ll always talk about it
Before introducing any ordinance, I’ll have a public meeting about the issue. That way, solutions can come prior to the “cake being baked”. And when there’s legislation introduced by another alderman that has an outsize effect on Ward One, I’ll invite them here for a town hall about it with our community. It’s important to me that these meetings be targeted to a specific issue and face-to-face for the most effective problem solving to happen.I’ll give notice along the way
I’ll be starting to include in the “News you can use” section more opportunities for public comment, such as at Planning or Historic Preservation Commission meetings. For example, it would have been good for me to encourage people to attend the Planning Commission’s meeting about the hotel bill. On particularly hot-button legislation, I’ll also start mentioning committee meetings that you can tune into.
I’m hopeful that this Compact will lead to more engagement, stronger legislation, and greater trust that city government is improving the lives of all the members of our community.
This week and every week, I’m grateful for the honor of representing you and our whole community. Never hesitate to contact me at harry@harrymhuntley.com.
City council agenda
Call To Order
Mayor Buckley
Invocation
Alderman Schandelmeier
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Buckley
Roll Call
City Clerk Watkins-Eldridge
Approval of Agenda
Ceremonial Items
Update from Mayor
Mayor Buckley
Reports by Committee
Comments by the General Public
Remember, you can come to any city council meeting to tell us about what’s important to you and your neighborhood! Register here or just show up.
Consent Calendar
AP-55-25 Appointment - Mr. Phinehas Doraisingh – Transportation Board
Business and Miscellaneous
ID-151-25 Technical Correction to O-13-25, Compensation of Mayor, Alderpersons, and City Manager
Resolution First Readers
R-43-25 Annual Meeting and Tourism Industry Reception Fee Waiver
It’s just what it sounds like—waiving some fees (up to $4000) for Visit Annapolis’ annual meeting and reception.
Ordinance Second Readers
CA-1-25 City Council Compensation Commission
This legislation mostly just reorganizes where in the charter the process for setting city council salaries is located. It also changes the name of the Salary Review Commission to better distinguish it from other processes. The only substantive change is removing the city manager from this process for setting elected officials’ pay. If this is passed, the City Manager’s compensation will be placed under the jobs & pay schedule adopted annually by the City Council. I think it makes sense to treat the city manager position more like all the other staff positions, while only having this separate process for elected officials, so I intend to support the legislation.
CA-2-25 City Council Pay and Benefits Deadline
This legislation tweaks the charter, which currently requires that any pay increases for the city council happen within a narrow window right before the election. The Salary Review Commission has to be convened a year before the election, do their work, make their recommendations, which have to be acknowledged, then an ordinance has to pass more than 90 days before the election making the change. This legislation would strike the requirement that that last step happen more than 90 days before an election. I actually think this is a fairly reasonable change on the merits, but I’ve been clear that I don’t support raising the council’s salary, so I intend to vote against it.
Ordinance Second Readers
O-14-25 Implementation of Annapolis Ahead Comprehensive Plan, 2040
This is the legislation that would adjust the height limits near City Dock to allow some structures to exceed the existing limit. To be clear, it does not allow any additional stories. We’ve heard testimony that this is “necessary” for a hotel to be economically viable where Latitude 38 currently is. We’ve also heard testimony that the change could run afoul of requirements that laws not be too targeted to one property. The legislation also clarifies rules around calculating floor area and makes planned developments more in line with the goals of the comprehensive plan, which I support. There are some very detailed amendments to this that I encourage anyone who’s interested to look through, and I imagine most of the debate will center on these. As I’ve said for many weeks, I intend to oppose this legislation, assuming the portion about height limits stays in.
O-15-25 Accessory Dwelling Unit Requirements
The intention of this legislation from Alderman Schandelmeier is to make it easier to get a Federal Housing Administration loan so more people can afford to build ADUs, also known as granny flats. It would have done that by removing the requirement that the owner of the property live in either the ADU or the main house, essentially allowing both to be (long-term) rented. After feedback from the Planning Commission, he brought forward an amendment to make crystal clear that the bill’s underlying change would not apply if the property is short-term rented. However, I still think passing the bill would lead to more people who don’t live here buying up existing housing stock, reducing home ownership opportunities for locals. I intend to vote “no” on this legislation, and I look forward to working next term on other ways to streamline the process for residents to build ADUs.
O-17-25 Limiting Short-term Rentals per Blockface
This might be one of the most existential pieces of legislation we pass this term. Short-term rentals are overrunning our communities, removing the neighborhood feel in places where everybody used to know everybody. This puts a commonsense limit on the areas that are most affected. It simply says that once a blockface has 10% STRs, no new licenses are issued. I understand if people want to go farther, and so do I. We also need to continue to improve enforcement. But it’s important we pass this now to stem the bleeding in the areas that are currently most affected. Short-term rental regulation will definitely be an issue in the next council term, and we need an alderman who can have a voice on it.
O-18-25 Re-Allowing Historic Duplexes in R2 Zoning Districts
I've listened to the community and think we could really use some additional guardrails to safeguard the intent of this legislation. For instance, the last thing I want is for new duplexes to just become more STRs for tourists, rather than homes for neighbors. Because we're so close to the end of the session, we don't have time to make those changes with the care needed, so I'll be withdrawing the bill. Thank you to those who shared their counsel on this topic and provided suggestions for improvement. I look forward to working closely with those engaged members of the community on how we can increase housing affordability while improving residents’ quality of life.
O-19-25 Regulation of Tours in Historic Annapolis
This creates a simple process to license walking tours in downtown. The businesses themselves have requested this legislation. We’ve heard about some bad actors, so this will give the city a way to remove licenses if businesses do not comply with commonsense rules. It only applies to walking tours. And we’ve finally come up with a way to exempt the littlest guys doing this from the requirements to get licensed, while still mandating that they hold insurance.
O-21-25 Annapolis Harbor Lines at 423 Chester Avenue on Back Creek
I never really got why we’d pass this legislation. It always felt like giving something for nothing. As I understand, the issue has been resolved, and the legislation will be tabled.
O-24-25 Election Report Deadlines
This adds two new campaign finance reporting deadlines earlier in the election cycle. It would not apply until the 2029 elections. Currently the first campaign finance reports aren’t due until the month before the election. By requiring candidates to report their contributions six months and three months before the primary, the legislation will give voters more transparency into who’s funding city elections. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the Rules and City Government Committee seemed to think this additional transparency is not worth the hassle, and this received an unfavorable recommendation, so it may not pass. But I’m hopeful that an amendment to take it down to just one new deadline will be enough to earn everyone’s support.
O-29-25 Tyler Avenue Complete Community Overlay District
The community on Tyler Avenue between Forest Drive and Bay Ridge has for years brought concerns to the city about vacant properties and unsafe streets. The area was thus included in the comprehensive plan as an opportunity for improvement. The city’s comprehensive planners have worked diligently with the community there to create this zoning overlay district that will respect existing neighborhood character and activate opportunities for new housing, streetscape improvements, and community open space. This allows smarter land use, and the neighbors seem to overwhelmingly support it, so I intend to vote in favor of this.
O-30-25 Business Revitalization District Regulation Change
This very small, technical tweak changes just a tiny zone that was created in 2005. This less-than-a-block sized zone was created to support small businesses in the old fourth ward, but the floor area ratio is so low that it’s making it impossible to reach the allowed heights of three stories. This corrects that so the community can get back some of its local shops and vibrancy. I intend to support the legislation.
O-34-25 FY 2026 Changes in Exempt Service Job Classifications
This legislation corrects an oversight from the mammoth classification and compensation study legislation a few months ago by adding the “Community Service Coordinator” position to the list of exempt positions.
Resolution Second Readers
R-5-25 Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts Fee Waiver
The Finance Committee decided not to do this months ago, but the legislation needs to get officially voted down now.
R-33-25 Speed Monitoring System Fines
This makes speeding fines more progressive, based on how much faster than the speed limit someone is going. More speed is more deadly, so I intend to support this legislation. As a reminder, fines from speed cameras are required to go to traffic and pedestrian safety improvements. We also heard during the Finance hearing on this bill that data from our speed cameras show that they are working and violations are going down over time.
R-34-25 Market Space Interest Charge Waiver
Some of the restaurants at Market Space (the outdoor dining area next to Market House) did not pay their rent on time and accrued interest. At the same time, the city was billing them an incorrect amount for that interest. There was confusion all around, and the city suggested just starting from a clean slate. I don’t feel like this has been adequately considered, so I intend to move to table this legislation.
R-35-25 181 Prince George Street Sidewalk Easement
This grants an easement to a sidewalk container on Prince George Street. The apartment building has three units, two of which have access to the backyard and one which doesn’t. So, the idea is to put trashcans in a structure out front, if it’s approved by HPC. On the one hand, this is truly not a big ask since the structure mostly goes between the buildings stairs and bump-out, barely getting into the public’s way. On the other hand, it feels to some neighbors like an example of preferential treatment. The committee that considered it did provide a favorable recommendation after hearing that Public Works does not have an issue with the structure. I have not completely made up my mind how I’ll vote on this and welcome your feedback.
R-41-25 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl Parade and Football Game
This designates the Military Bowl Parade as a special event and waives some fees for it. Finance Committee straightened out that this is only about the parade, not the game. So, there is an amendment to remove “and football game” from the title. I intend to support this.
R-42-25 Compensation of Acting City Manager Victoria Buckland
This just allows the acting city manager to continue to be acting for another six months or until a new permanent city manager is hired. I think it makes sense, considering we will have a new mayor soon.
Adjournment
Other news you can use
It’s the last day of the boat shows. Get over and explore some amazing sailboats, if you can beat the rain!
Starting tomorrow, a City contractor will begin work Downtown and in Murray Hill to clean and video-inspect the City’s sewer lines. This will not involve any water or sewer service disruption, but it may impact parking in some areas, since these large trucks have to go somewhere. I’ll share additional info once I get it.
The city will be celebrating Walktober all this month, including a trail walk at 5:15 PM tomorrow at Eastport Veterans Park.
The giant pumpkins got delivered downtown, and they’ll be carved up on October 24.
Throughout October, you can support the Lighthouse Shelter by buying a pumpkin at St. Martin’s Church from 2 PM to 6 PM Thursdays and Fridays and 10 AM to 6 PM Saturday and Sunday
Every Saturday and Sunday between now and election day, we’ll be door knocking, and we’re getting started writing postcards too. The Democratic coordinated campaign is having amazing speakers, like Sarah Elfreth and Brooke Lierman, join us to kick off these launches. If you want to be notified of volunteer opportunities, please sign up on our website or just go to harrymhuntley.com/events.
Please send me any events or other information you’d like advertised to your neighbors.
Have a great week, everyone!
Harry